Tray with skirt

ABSTRACT

A tray being a panel with depressions where each depression is a compartment for holding a group of items distinct from items in other groups. A skirt is provided having a rim that is engaged with the rim of the tray and usually preferably long enough to conceal the underside of the depressions. The skirt is preferably paper to reduce cost. Messages such as advertisements or labels for the items in the compartments are printed on the outside surface of the skirt in clear view of the user or passerby. The skirt, being paper, is economical to replace when a change in the message is required.

CROSS REFERENCE TO EARLIER FILED INVENTIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 10/067,007 filed Feb. 4, 2002 from which priority is claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to trays and to an organizer (tray) forholding various items in separate compartments of the tray. When theitems are food, the tray enables the user to hold the food in one handleaving the other hand free for eating or other purposes.

BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE

[0003] Trays with compartments are used for many situations particularlywhere fast and convenient access to the items is required. Suchsituations include storage of groups of items on a shelf wherein allmembers of a group are identical yet items of each group are differentfrom items of another group. For example, it is often desirable in ahardware store to store all screws in one area though it is required tokeep screws of a given size separate from screws of another size.

[0004] Food trays are particularly useful for situations where the dineris not able or desirous to sit down at a typical dinner table or wherethere is a requirement to transport a meal from the kitchen to a remotelocation. Meals for such occasions are typically of the fast foodvariety, particularly “finger food” such as kebobs (meat and/orvegetables on a stick) potatoes, crackers, etc. Balancing a beverage onsuch occasions is a particular challenge. The problem is furthercomplicated by the occasional need to have a free hand such as foranswering a cell phone, greeting an attendee at a party, etc.

[0005] A number of disclosures have appeared related to the problem.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,026 B1 discloses a utility food tray having ashallow food section and an aperture for receiving a beverage containerand has downwardly extending legs.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,302 discloses a “chip and dip” tray thatnests a beverage container with a bag of chips.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,232 discloses a box for transporting foodincluding a lid with a depression for holding a beverage cup.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,139 discloses a tray with a food and beveragesection and a bottomward extending handgrip.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,784 disclose a bottom tray hingably attachedto a lid arranged to prevent spillage.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,944 discloses a food bowl integrally joinedto a section having a depression for receiving a beverage cup.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,119 discloses a tray with appendages arrangedto stabilize the tray on the user's lap.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,042 discloses a combination tray for carryinga drink container and a food container.

[0014] Identification of items stored in the compartments is often aproblem. Furthermore, there is often a situation where it is desired toattract attention to the item in the tray. The problem is furthercomplicated when any given tray will be used to store a variety ofgroups of items on one occasion and a different varitety on anotheroccasion. Such a problem arises in dispensing food when a menu changetakes place. On consecutive days or even from one mealtime to the next.

[0015] None of the trays disclosed provide the convenience for arrangingand dispensing types of items and displaying a description oradvertisement of the items wherein the description or advertisement canbe changed as the need arises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] It is an object of this invention to provide a tray that iscompartmentalized to enable a user to store items in variouscompartments.

[0017] It is another object to provide a means for displaying oradvertising designs and text that boldly inform the user of the contentsof the tray.

[0018] It is another object that the medium for displaying the designsand text be inexpensive and separable from the storage medium of theitems so that storage medium can be used successively for various itemsand only the relatively inexpensive display medium need be changed.

[0019] In particular, it is an object to provide a tray that would beadvantageous for dispensing fast food items including beverages. In thissituation, it is desirable to accommodate the user holding the tray inone hand while the other hand is free.

[0020] This invention is directed toward a tray being a panel withdepressions. The depressions have various shapes to accommodate storageof various items such as beverage. The tray is fitted with a skirt thatis secured around the rim of the tray. The skirt is replaceable and madeof paper or a similar medium that is relatively inexpensive andconveniently imprintable with suitable text and decorations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021]FIG. 1 shows the tray with skirt of this invention.

[0022]FIG. 2 shows the tray poised for attachment to the skirt.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the tray with skirt attached.

[0024] FIGS. 4A-C show views of the skirt in three stages of fold.

DISCUSSION OF A BEST MODE

[0025] Turning now to a discussion of the drawings, FIG. 1 illustratesthis invention comprising a tray section and a skirt section.

[0026] In FIG. 2 the tray section 39 is poised for positioning on the:skirt: section. 51 so that the rim of the tray section engages a rim ofthe skirt section.

[0027] As shown by the sectional view of FIG. 3, The tray section 39 isa plastic panel with a plurality of depressions. 53,55, dimensioned forvarious purposes. Engagement of the rim 57 of the tray section 39 withthe rim 59 of the skirt section 51 is shown.

[0028] The tray design of FIG. 2 is particularly convenient fordispensing food and beverage. One depression 53 is intended for holdingthe beverage. The user drinks from the depression with a straw.

[0029] Other depressions 55 are dimensioned for holding solid foods suchas French fries, kebobs, etc.

[0030]FIG. 2 shows the skirt section 51 being a frame of four panels,51A, 51B, 51C, 51D with no floor panel.

[0031]FIG. 4A is a top view of the skirt with the skirt 51 completelyopen. FIG. 4B is a top view of the skirt 51with the skirt 51 partiallyfolded. FIG. 4C is a top view of the skirt with the skirt 51 foldedcompletely closed.

[0032] The skirt has several important properties.

[0033] Preferably, the skirt is made of paper which is relativelyinexpensive. In another embodiment, the skit is made of corrugatedpaper, which has the advantage of strength and low thermal conductivity.The flattened skirt takes very little storage space when the skirts arestored as a stack of skirts.

[0034] Printing can be applied to the outside of the skirt rendering thecombination tray on skirt very attractive. Another advantage of printingon a paper skirt is that various messages can advertise the “specialmeal of the day” and when the meal is changed, printing on the skirt canbe used to advertise the changes. The paper skirt is biodegradable.

[0035] In one embodiment, particularly advantageous for conveying foodwhere cost is an important consideration, the tray section is plastic sothat the tray can be made by well known processes such as injectionmolding or vacuum molding.

[0036] However, in some circumstances such as when the tray is used toconvey hardware (e.g., display on a store shelf, the tray is a metal,e.g., aluminum. and the tray can be made by stamping.

[0037] Variations and modifications of this invention may becontemplated after reading the specification and studying the drawingswhich are within the scope of this invention. I therefore wish to definethe scope of my invention by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An organizer for separately holding items, whichcomprises: a tray section having a rim; a skirt section including fourside panels, each panel having one edge coincident with an edge of oneneighboring panel and another edge coincident with an edge of anotherneighboring panel, said four side panels forming a frame without a floorand having a skirt rim including four edges of said panels; said rim ofsaid tray section dimensioned to engage said skirt rim said tray sectionbeing a panel with a plurality of depressions, each depressiondimensioned to permit holding special items.
 2. The organizer of claim 1wherein said skirt is made of paper
 3. The organizer of claim 1 whereinsaid skirt is made of corrugated paper.
 4. The organizer of claim 1wherein an outside visible surface of said skirt is imprinted with atleast one of alpha-numeric figures and designs.
 5. The organizer ofclaim 1 wherein said skirt has a length selected to conceal a view of anunderside of said depressions when said tray section is mounted on saidskirt section.
 6. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said items are food.7. The organizer of claim 1 wherein at least one of said depressions isdimensioned to hold a quantity of liquid equivalent to one cup.
 8. Theorganizer of claim 1 wherein said tray section is made of a plastic. 9.The organizer of claim 22 wherein said tray section is made of a metal.